Inflatable pitch board game

ABSTRACT

A pitch board game includes a board made of drop stitch inflatable material. The board, prior to inflation, is light weight, compact and easily carried from location to location. When inflated, the board is comparable in strength and hardness to solid wooden board. The game itself is played like the game “cornhole,” as bean bags are tossed by players onto the upper surface of the board, which is propped up at an acute angle. Bags landing on the surface count one point, and bags landing in a hole in the board count three points.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pitch board games, and morespecifically, to games that use inflatable pitch boards as a way ofreducing weight and storage space. Preferably, the pitch boards are madeof inflatable, drop stitch fabric which allows for high inflationpressures which lead to structures that are as rigid and strong as wood,but can be stowed in small spaces, carried easily, and deployed byinflation at the place of use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

“Cornhole” is a lawn game in which players take turns throwing bags ofcorn kernels, typically weighing sixteen (16) ounces, at a raisedplatform or board with a hole in the far end, relative to the directionof pitch. The board is slightly inclined by a leg or brace which givesthe board a slight incline towards the direction of the hole. Theincline is designed to slow the bag once it hits the board, as it slidestowards the hole. In some regions, the game is called “bags,” “stacktoss,” or “bean bag,” but given that the game has been around for a longtime, other regional names are given for a game which has similarstructure and rules. Generally, a bag tossed into the hole results in ascore of three (3) points, while one landing on the board counts one (1)point. Play continues until a team or player reaches or exceeds thescore of twenty-one (21).

Cornhole matches are typically played with two sets of bags, two boardsand two to eight players. Each set has four (4) bags, although othernumbers of bags can be used. Each set of bags has a distinguishingfeature, such as color, so the sets can be identified. There exists anAmerican Cornhole League with rules that state for the bags to be madeof double seamed fabric measuring six (6) inches by six (6) inches (or150 mm by 150 mm), and to weight between 15.5 and 16.5 ounces (440 to479 grams). Although corn kernels were used in the past to fill thebags, hence the name “cornhole,” nowadays the bags are filled withplastic resin beads or other material that will maintain a consistentweight and shape. Bags are usually dual sided, with each side of the bagbeing a different material that reacts faster or slower on the board.Faster bags are preferred in humid conditions where bags will not slideas readily. Additionally, professional players may use differentmaterials depending on their personal throwing styles. Players with alower, harder throw use more rotation and a slower bag material. Playerswith a higher, softer throws may throw with less rotation and prefer amore reactive bag.

Each board, of regulation size and shape, is typically two (2) feet wideby four (4) feet long (or 0.61 meter by 1.22 meters). The hole is six(6) inches (150 mm) in diameter and centered nine (9) inches (230 mm)from the top, or far end of the board (relative to the direction of thethrower). The far end of the board is elevated so that the playingsurface is about twelve (12) inches (300 mm) above the ground, while theplaying surface at the near end is three or four (3 or 4) inches (76mm-102 mm) above the ground.

A court is set up by placing two boards apart so that the holes arethirty-three (33) feet (10 meters) apart, or twenty-seven (27) feet (8.2meters) between the bottoms of the boards. The boards themselves provideplatforms for receiving tossed bags. Shorter distances can be used whenyounger players are participating or there is not sufficient room. Theparticipants stand in a pitcher's box when throwing or tossing bags. Thebox is a rectangular space directing to the left or right of a board.And, the bottom of each platform provides a foul line.

Although official rules of play exist, more often than not the game isplayed in informal settings such as outdoor gatherings and parties, suchas football game tailgating. In those environments, rules are lessimportant than fun—distances between boards are not important, otherthan to keep the game challenging, and standing position before throwingcan be virtually anywhere, but often behind the board if not to the sideas rules require.

One problem with playing the game at outside events is that the boardsare typically made of wood, and are thus heavy, bulky and difficult totransport from a vehicle to a place of play. For example, in typicaltailgating situations, one person may have a parking spot in thetailgating area, and others attending the party have to carry coolers,chairs, other games (footballs, frisbees, etc.), grills, and food,leaving little or no room or capacity to carry a relatively large woodenboard.

Thus, a need exists to make cornhole games easier to transport, lighterand more compact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a game includes a board having arectangular shape, an upper playing surface, a first end, a second,opposite end, and a hole form through the board near the first end. Aleg is connected to the board at the first end to support the board atan acute angle relative to a substantially horizontal plane of a groundupon which the board is positioned. At least one throwing object issized and shaped to approximately fit within the hole when tossed at oronto the playing surface. The board and leg are made of an inflatable,drop stitch fabric.

Preferably, the game includes an inflation valve on a reverse side ofthe board, and is used to inflate the board and leg, which preferablyare in fluid communication with each other so that they can be inflatedthrough a single valve. Inflation pressures preferably range frombetween four p.s.i. and twenty p.s.i.

The board is preferably and approximately four (4) feet long and two (2)feet wide, and the leg extends substantially across the width of theboard.

The game includes a plurality of throwing objects which are sized andshaped to fall through the hole when thrown by a player, either when atoss or throw by the player results in the throwing object hitting theboard and sliding into the hole, or when a toss or throw by the playerresults in the throwing object entering the hole on the fly. Thethrowing objects are preferably six inches by six inches, and consist oftwo sheets of fabric sewn together along overlapping edges, with aloose, granular material contained inside. In traditional cornholegames, the loose granular material would be hard, dried corn kernels,but other materials could be used so long as a desired weight andconsistency is achieved.

The throwing objects preferably are provided in two sets, each sethaving a distinguishing feature which distinguishes throwing objectsfrom one set from throwing objects 26 from the other set. Onedistinguishing feature is color, so that all throwing objects from oneset will be of one color, while the throwing objects of the other setare of a different color. Another distinguishing feature, particularlyappropriate for football tailgating, would have a first set having ateam identifier, logo or name on one set, and a second set bearing theteam identifier, logo or name of the other team's opponent, e.g., anAuburn University set and a University of Alabama set, where those twoteams may be playing on a given day.

In setting up the game, it is preferable to find a flat area of ground.A board of the type described herein is inflated, preferably on site soit can otherwise be easily carried to a preferred site. Players can taketurns throwing objects at the board from a predetermined position anddistance from the board. Competing players can use different coloredobjects to throw to distinguish one player's results from another's.When placed on flat ground, the leg of the board will prop the board ata slight, or acute angle, preferably in the range of 10-15 degrees. Thethrown objects are like bean bags, meaning soft, pliable, andconforming.

When a bag hits the playing surface of the board, which has a lowfrictional coefficient, the bag will slide on the playing surface. A bagthat hits the board in line with the hole, but in front of the hole, thebag will slide towards and into the hole, so long as the speed of thebag is not too great or too slow. In theory, a bag could be thrown intothe hole without sliding, but most often, the players will gauge speedand angle of toss with point on impact on the playing surface so thatthe bag passes through the hole. Under traditional cornhole rules, a bagthat passes through the hole accounts for three points, while a bag thatlands on the playing surface accounts for one point.

One aspect of the invention is to provide a method of playing a gamewhich includes forming a first inflatable board from drop stitch fabricand having a first flat playing surface and a second opposite surface, afirst end and a second, opposite end, a hole extending through the firstboard near the first end of the board, and a support leg disposed nearthe first end on the opposite surface of the first board, locating asubstantially flat area of ground, inflating the first board and leg andplacing the first board on the ground with the leg resting on the groundand propping the first board up at an inclined, acute angle, andproviding a plurality of throwing objects, each sized, shaped andweighted to be thrown by a player towards the first board from apredetermined distance and position, wherein the first board is slopedupwardly relative to the player throwing objects at the first board.

The method preferably includes forming a second inflatable board fromdrop stitch fabric and having a first flat playing surface and a secondopposite surface, a first end and a second, opposite end, a holeextending through the second board near the first end of the secondboard, and a support leg disposed near the first end on the oppositesurface of the second board, inflating the second board and leg andplacing the second board on the ground with the leg resting on theground and propping the second board up at an inclined, acute angle, andaxially aligning the first and second boards and spacing the first andsecond boards at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein theboards are sloped downwardly towards each other, and upwardly relativeto the position of players throwing the throwing objects.

While other sizes and shapes of pitch boards can be envisioned, allembodiments of the present invention employ inflatable drop stitchfabric material. These materials can be inflated to higher pressureswithout distortion of shape, and result in panel like structures thatare as hard and strong as comparably sized wooden panels or boards, yetby being inflatable, the boards according to the present invention willbe easily transportable, stowed, and deployed in situ.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an inflatable pitch board gameaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the inflatable pitch board game ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the inflatable pitch board game ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a reverse, or underside, view of the inflatable pitch boardgame of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a transverse, sectional view of the inflatable pitch boardgame of FIG. 1, taken along line V-V of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, sectional view of a portion of the inflatablepitch board game of the present invention, showing details of the dropstitch fabric used to construct the board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a game 10 includes a board 12 having arectangular shape, an upper playing surface 14, a first end 16, asecond, opposite end 18, and a hole 20 formed through the board 12 nearthe first end 16.

A leg 22 is connected to the board 12 at the first end 16, and supportsthe board 12 at an acute angle relative to a substantially horizontalplane 24 of a ground upon which the board 12 is positioned, At least onethrowing object 26 is sized and shaped to approximately fit within thehole 20 when tossed at or onto the playing surface 14.

A key aspect of the present invention is that at least the board 12, andpreferably the leg 22, are made of inflatable drop stitch fabric. Asseen in FIG. 6, a typical construction for inflatable drop stitch fabricincludes an inner PVC layer 28, 30 and an outer PVC layer 32, 34, and aplurality of nylon drop stitches 36 adhesively or otherwise bonded tothe inner PVC layer 28, 30. An inflation valve 38, shown in FIG. 4 onthe reverse side of the board 12, is used to inflate the board 12 andleg 22, which preferably are in fluid communication so that they can beinflated through a single valve. Although the inflation valve is locatedon the reverse side of the board 12, any location other than the playingsurface 14 can be used. The leg 22 extends substantially across thewidth of the board 12.

Prior to inflation, the board 12 and leg 22 are easily stowed in afolded, compact space, so it can be easily carried in a bag, backpack,or similar devices, so it can be moved from place to place easily. Abattery operated portable electric pump (not shown), which is alsoeasily carried, can be used once the game is placed in a desiredlocation. Likewise, a non-electric pump could be used, such as a bicycleor ball pump, so long as the pump is capable of generating pressures inthe range of 4 to 20 p.s.i. A particularly preferred inflation pressureis 10 p.s.i. give or take slight variations, for a board having thedimensions of four feet long by two feet wide, by three inches thick.The thickness of the board 12 is primarily a function of cost andaesthetics, so while three inches is preferred, the preferred thicknesscould range between two and six inches.

The game 10 includes a plurality of throwing objects 26 which are sizedand shaped to fall through the hole 20 when thrown by a player, eitherwhen a toss or throw by the player results in the throwing objecthitting the board and sliding into the hole, or when a toss or throw bythe player results in the throwing object 26 entering the hole 20 on thefly.

The throwing objects 26 preferably are provided in two sets, each sethaving a distinguishing feature which distinguishes throwing objects 26from one set from throwing objects 26 from the other set. Onedistinguishing feature is color, so that all throwing objects 26 fromone set will be of one color, while the throwing objects 26 of the otherset are of a different color. Another distinguishing feature,particularly appropriate for football tailgating, would have a first sethaving a team identifier, logo or name on one set, and a second setbearing the team identifier, logo or name of the other team's opponent,e.g., an Auburn University set and a University of Alabama set, wherethose two teams may be playing on a given day.

A method of playing the game of the present invention is described asfollows. In setting up the game, it is preferable to find a flat area ofground. A board 12 is inflated, preferably on site so it can otherwisebe easily carried to a preferred site. Players can take turns throwingobjects 26 at the board 12 from a predetermined position and distancefrom the board. Competing players can use different colored objects 26to throw so as to distinguish one player's results from another's. Whenplaced on flat ground, the leg 22 of the board 12 will prop the board ata slight, or acute angle, preferably in the range of 10-15 degrees. Thethrown objects 26 are like bean bags, meaning soft, pliable, andconforming, while sized and shaped to fit through the hole 20 if tossedaccurately.

When a bag 26 hits the playing surface 14 of the board 12, which has alow frictional coefficient, the bag 26 will slide on the playing surface14. A bag 26 that hits the playing surface 14 in line with the hole 20,but in front of the hole 20, the bag 26 will slide towards and into thehole 20, so long as the speed of the bag 20 is not too great or tooslow. In practice, a bag 26 could be thrown into the hole 20 withoutsliding, but most often, the players will gauge speed and angle of tosswith point of impact on the playing surface 14 so that the bag 26 passesthrough the hole 20 when tossed accurately at the right speed. Undertraditional cornhole rules, a bag 26 that passes through the hole 20accounts for three points, while a bag 26 that lands on the playingsurface 14 accounts for one point.

Multiple players can use a single board in a more informal set up of thegame. A distance and location from which players throw the bags at theboard can be a function of what space or section of ground is available.Crowded tailgate areas, for example, may necessitate a shorter thandesirable throwing distance. If regulation distances are desired, asection of ground ten meters long will be required. Preferably theground is flat or substantially horizontally planar, so that when theleg of a board is placed on the ground, the board is propped up at anangle relative to the players throwing objects. Playing with teams ormore than one player, it is preferable to set up two boards at adistance spaced apart from each other and axially aligned. Competingplayers stand behind or to the side of the board which the opposite teamor competing player is throwing towards.

The use of drop stitch fabric allows for boards to be portable, stowableand deployable on site, rather than wooden or solid material boardswhich are bulky, heavy and difficult to transport to events like ballgames, picnics, or other outdoor social gatherings. When inflated, theboards take on the hardness and strength of solid materials. Drop stitchfabric is generally known and several suppliers are commerciallyavailable. The same materials has been described in my prior patentapplications for inflatable stand up paddleboards (SUPs).

1. A game comprising: a first board having a rectangular shape, an upperplaying surface, a first end, a second, opposite end, and a hole formedthrough the first board near the first end; a leg connected to the firstboard at the first end, and supporting the first board at an acute anglerelative to a substantially horizontal plane of a ground upon which thefirst board is positioned; at least one throwing object, sized andshaped to approximately fit within the hole when tossed at or onto theplaying surface of the first board, wherein the first board and leg aremade of an inflatable drop stitch fabric.
 2. The game of claim 1,wherein the leg and the first board are in fluid communication with eachother, and the game further comprises an inflation valve disposed on oneof the leg and the first board.
 3. The game of claim 2, wherein the legand the first board are inflatable to a pressure of between 4 and 20p.s.i.
 4. The game of claim 1, wherein the first board has a length ofapproximately four feet, and a width of approximately two feet.
 5. Thegame of claim 1, wherein the leg extends substantially across the widthof the first board.
 6. The game of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of throwing objects, shaped and sized to fall through the holein the first board when thrown by a player.
 7. The game of claim 1,further comprising two sets of throwing objects, each set having adistinguishing feature which distinguishes throwing objects from one setfrom throwing objects from the other set.
 8. The game of claim 6,wherein each throwing object is approximately six inches by six inches,and contains a loose, granular material sufficient to provide an overallweight of approximately one pound.
 9. The game of claim 1, furthercomprising a second board, of substantially the same construction, size,shape and material as the first board, and having a rectangular shape,an upper playing surface, a first end, a second, opposite end, and ahole formed through the second board near the first end, a leg connectedto the second board at the first end, and supporting the second board atan acute angle relative to a substantially horizontal plane of a groundupon which the second board is positioned, wherein the at least onethrowing object includes a plurality of throwing objects comprising twodistinct sets, wherein one set is used by a first player and the secondset is used by a second player.
 10. The game of claim 9, wherein thefirst and second boards are arranged in substantial axial alignment, andspaced apart by a predetermined distance with the playing surface ofeach board sloping upwardly relative to a direction of throw of athrowing object, wherein a throwing position for two competing playersis defined by an area of ground to a side or behind each of the firstand second boards.
 11. The game of claim 3, wherein the leg and thefirst board are inflatable to a pressure of 10 p.s.i.
 12. A method ofplaying a game comprising: forming a first inflatable board from dropstitch fabric and having a first flat playing surface and a secondopposite surface, a first end and a second, opposite end, a holeextending through the first board near the first end of the board, and asupport leg disposed near the first end on the opposite surface of thefirst board; locating a substantially flat area of ground; inflating thefirst board and leg and placing the first board on the ground with theleg resting on the ground and propping the first board up at an include,acute angle; and providing a plurality of throwing objects, each sized,shaped and weighted to be thrown by a player towards the first boardfrom a predetermined distance and position, wherein the first board issloped upwardly relative to the player throwing objects at the firstboard.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inflating step comprisesinflating the first board and leg to a pressure of between 4 and 20p.s.i.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming a secondinflatable board from drop stitch fabric and having a first flat playingsurface and a second opposite surface, a first end and a second,opposite end, a hole extending through the second board near the firstend of the second board, and a support leg disposed near the first endon the opposite surface of the second board; inflating the second boardand leg and placing the second board on the ground with the leg restingon the ground and propping the second bard up at an inclined, acuteangle; axially aligning the first and second boards and spacing thefirst and second boards at a predetermined distance from each other,wherein the boards are sloped downwardly towards each other, andupwardly relative to the position of players throwing the throwingobjects.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a plurality ofthrowing objects includes providing two sets of throwing objects, eachset being visually distinguishable from the other set while having thesame size, shape and weight.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein theinflating step comprises inflating the first board and the leg to apressure of 10 p.s.i.
 17. A game of claim 1, wherein the first boardincludes an upper layer of plastic material, a lower layer of plasticmaterial, and a plurality of stitches extending between the upper andlower layers of plastic material.
 18. A method of claim 12, wherein thefirst board includes an upper layer of plastic material, a lower layerof plastic material, and a plurality of stitches extending between theupper and lower layers of plastic material.